Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

For many riders, collection can feel like an exotic and luxury destination that they can only dream about visiting.  It can feel very much outside the realms of possibility when they consider their riding abilities and their horse's abilities as well. Now, the flip side of this is that there are also a smaller group of riders who feel entitled to go there every day. No preparation, no visa require...

When I was first starting out as a rider, I thought that straightness was a simple and easy concept. I remember the first time someone told me that one of the hardest things to do on a horse was to ride a straight line.  I didn't believe them!  However, turns out they might just have been right... Keep in mind that whenever you are working on the lower steps of the scale,  you are doing so with an...

How do you know if you have actually achieved true impulsion? What makes this 'real' impulsion different from simply running around the arena like the energizer bunny with your horse? What is impulsion? Impulsion is the harnessing of the energy that your horse creates and that is inside of the 'container' that you and your horse create when working together.  Working together is an important part...

Contact and connection; hot topics for many riders.  This is often because they can feel quite elusive.  There is confusion regarding what needs to happen in order for contact to occur.  And, how can you tell if the contact is correct and 'good'?   What is Contact?   This is a big question because many riders feel a lot of confusion around contact.  And this confusion impacts most of their riding...

What if I was to say that suppleness is less about being 'bendy' and more about how energy flows in you and your horse... Would that challenge you a little?  Or is this something which, if you think of yoga, makes sense? If you sometimes struggle to maintain that lovely 'loosey gooseyness' in your horse, is it possible that you have been making it more about the bend, and less about the flow?  Let...

Rhythm is often a funny thing when riding.  The reason for this is that rhythm, in the true sense of the word, is any beat that is on repeat... And, most horses tend to have a beat or two that they repeat.  This leads many riders to struggle with rhythm.  Their question is "if there already is a rhythm, why is it something to work and develop?".  And that is a mighty fine question... All rhythm is...

It can feel really overwhelming when we begin looking at all the different things you need to include when training your horse, right?  All these 'steps' and 'principles' are big pieces of a puzzle in their own right; they also have to work together in order to get the full picture! The training scale is a proven way for you to take these pieces and make them work, regardless of horse, discipline,...

When does a halt become more than just stopping? When a rider begins to get intentional about it...  I would love to help you begin to see the halt in a completely different light when working with your horse. You see, I believe that if you become a little more intentional and focused on this movement that you complete every single day you are with your horse, it truly can begin to change everythi...

Fun can mean lots of different things to lots of different riders.  And your idea of what is really fun can change as you develop and grow as a rider.  I always encourage my riders to be intentional about including fun stuff in their plan or schedule with their horses. So, as you plan out your weekly riding, see where you can include one or two activities that you are including with the simple int...

Have you ever wondered how some riders seem to effortlessly connect with their horse when riding?  It genuinely seems like they are doing nothing in particular, and there is clearly an ongoing conversation, or magic, happening. The secret to seemingly effortless riding is to begin, one by one putting a basic on autopilot - and then revisiting and upgrading them regularly The basics in riding are a...

Instant gratification.  It is a very real thing in the world we live in.  People see the thing they want and, without doing a whole of anything, expect to have the same thing.  Equestrians often suffer from this same issue.  Instead of being on a path to better riding, they are guilty of taking shortcuts... And then wonder why, after time goes by, they never really get anywhere. The shortcuts are...

Timing is something we all understand.  When it is working for us, it feels good.  If it's a little off, things tend to feel rushed or stressed. I think our horses feel the same mixed bag of emotions and tension when the timing is off.  In fact, bad timing often is the very thing that causes a 'hop, skip, and jump' into the canter. So, if timing the ask of your canter transitions is so important,...

A couple of weeks ago, I gave you an audio horse riding lesson on the Daily Strides Podcast.   It was all about self-carriage and awareness in your body.  A lot of riders reached out and asked for more... So today's episode is focused specifically on creating the space for better canter transitions with your horse. Getting into canter can be a challenge for many riders.   Okay, let's get a little...

It seems pretty simple, navigating a corner or bend with your horse.  And yet, for many riders, this becomes a complicated task really quickly.  The issue is not the turn or the bend.  No, the issue is that they are trying to turn their horse, rather than simply setting things up and allowing their horse to turn. As the rider, you do not bend or turn your horse.  You simply set things up and ask y...

What are your plans for your riding this week? Specific plans... Not what you think you will do.  Or what you 'might' do if you have time... One of the biggest things that hold riders back, particularly riders who are working alone, is the lack of a plan.  And this does not have to be the case.  Yes, I get that you're probably not a horse riding instructor or trainer.  I also realize that you have...

You can feel it when your horse 'hollows', right?  And I bet you can also feel it when your horse 'grows a hand' and begins to carry himself. There is either a feeling of contraction or expansion.  Okay, so because we agree on that, it makes sense that your horse can probably feel the same thing... Right? And yet, so many riders fail to consider the knock on effects that collapsing in the saddle c...

Posture. It's something that many people (equestrians or not) have memories of a parent or teacher correcting them on! And perhaps this is why many riders don't want to hear about their posture when it comes to their riding. However, no matter what way you approach your riding, or what discipline you choose to work with your horse on, posture counts. I believe that bad posture in the saddle accoun...

Self-carriage is a pretty big topic when it comes to riding and riders in general. And it should be. It is an important aspect when it comes to training moving in the right direction. However - you knew there was a 'however' coming, right?! Often we put the cart before the horse when it comes to self-carriage in riding. We focus on the horse's self-carriage - or lack thereof. When, in reality, we...

Stories are a funny thing. They are usually part of an experience that was very real at some point. However, as a rider, it is important to always update and be aware of your stories. And this requires you to begin actively analyzing what you are saying to yourself on a moment-by-moment basis. Your Stories on Autopilot This sounds relatively easy... However, when we are doing something which we ha...

Have you been using your lunging whip incorrectly? Have you decided not to use it at all? Your lunging whip is one of the best aids you have to help you clarify your communication when it comes to lunging your horse. However, in order for it to be of benefit, it must be used correctly. And, unfortunately, the lunging whip can often be misused, and often, therefore, misunderstood when it comes to a...

Do you know that, contrary to popular belief, lunging is not 'running in circles'? That, when done right, lunging is one of the most beneficial, easy to use, and low barrier to entry tools you can work with your horse to improve your riding. True and good quality lunging improves both horse and rider; and can be used by all horses and riders, regardless of where they are in their riding journey. Y...

Self carriage is something a lot of riders have on their 'goals' list for their horse. As though it is something that can be achieved once and 'ticked off'. Done and dusted. If only… I believe that self carriage is a sign of development and growth in both horse and rider. A start in the sharing of responsibilities that lead to the desired outcome. Each team member realizing that it truly does take...

It is one of the most frustrating experiences as a rider when you notice that you've stopped improving. Progress has stalled! You're doing 'all the things' but, seemingly, to no avail whatsoever. This is a commonplace that all riders can find themselves in at some point or another. And the good news is that there are things you can begin doing today that will help you get moving and improving as a...

It can feel bumpy, right? A little more space than what you're used to feeling. And, if there are two or more poles, well, it can all get a little unbalanced! For you and your horse. I preach all the time about the benefits of groundpoles when used correctly. And, one of those benefits comes from riders learning what to do when navigating them. Groundpoles are, well, Poles! One of the first issues...

Have you ever ridden in an open space, a large open space? A space with no boundaries, or fences, or hedges, or any natural 'this is the end of this space' obstacles. It takes a lot more focus to ride accurate shapes and straight lines. We tend to 'wander'... So many of us forget how beneficial an artificial aid the boundary our arena rail creates. Not only does the arena rail or fence mark the 'e...